A university offers support between bombs raining down
A new European university is helping students, academics, artists, and dissidents in need. One of the founders is UvA professor of Slavic Studies, Ellen Rutten. “When the Ukraine war broke out, we felt we had to do something.”
In the spring of 2021, UvA professor of Russian literature Ellen Rutten, along with two colleagues from Florence and Berlin, spoke about the reception of refugee scientists from Belarus, who had virtually nowhere to go at the time. The group came up with a solution: a new European university for students, academics, and artists in need: the University of New Europe. It could provide practical help, jobs, and moral support. Scholars from all over Europe signed an open letter the company wrote about the plan. And then Russia invaded Ukraine with a large army after years of dormant conflict in the east of the country.
How did the escalation of the Ukraine war in February change your project?
“There was a lot of sadness and shock among students and colleagues. I was also overwhelmed by it. We had to take action then. First, we set up a mentoring program. Academics could sign up to help Ukrainians and also assist Russians and Belarusians in need.”
What does the program entail?
“The mentors, usually experienced scientists, are paired with students, academics, or artists. We bring people together who have something in common on a professional level. The mentors can then help the applicants by guiding them through the research or grant application process, or by putting them in touch with people in their network. Most recently, a mentor helped a Russian academic critical of the regime to cross the Russian border.”
“We now have more than 300 pairs of mentors who can look at different programs offered through our website. They sort of serve as employment pages with jobs, promotional spots, online lectures, and services.”
What kind of people are you helping in this way?
“One Ukrainian researcher we were able to offer a guest appointment at the UvA. When a Russian PhD student who had to flee couldn't manage to apply for a visa to the U.S. with her family, we were able to arrange it for her. We also helped a Belarusian artist who has been living in the Netherlands for some time and cannot return to her home country because she is critical of the regime. She received career guidance and was brought into contact with the Dutch art world. We also help Ukrainians who want to stay in their homeland or have difficulty leaving. Those colleagues are still in the shelters, typing a contribution for a scientific journal between the rains of bombs.”
Where will the university be located?
“There is no physical location yet so we currently only offer online programs. We were first going to move into an existing university in Riga. Since the target audience was mostly from Eastern Europe, it seemed like a good idea. But that didn't go through, partly because it was a sensitive issue at the university. That is not unrelated to an understandable hatred of Russians in Latvia and the Baltic states.”
Do Ukrainians even want to be in the same place as Russians?
“It is still our aim to bring them together but we stress that we are not a reconciliation project. We decided for now that we will help all groups separately. Resentment against Russians has grown. Ukrainians no longer perceive the invasion as Putin's personal war. This is understandable because Russians are taught from their culture that Russia is superior. You have to be very critical to escape from that cultural hold. For example, a while back, I attended a lecture where a dissident, who was outspokenly anti-Putin, proclaimed in front of Ukrainians that the annexation of Crimea was justifiable after all. Some Russians subconsciously believe that Russians should be in charge. And I understand that people from neighboring countries are angry about that. Especially in Ukraine.”
Do you also provide courses and lecture series like other universities?
“We have just started a free lecture series that can be taken for credit for both refugee academics and students. Here the emphasis is very much on the Ukraine war and Ukrainian speakers. The lectures are streamed from Munich and Vienna. We also run a winter school with a short program and organize what we call Eastsplainers, a public program in which we invite refugee or migrant scholars, journalists, writers, musicians, and other artists to speak.”
Where do you get funding from?
“It was a bit of a search in the beginning. Our universities give us time, but a lot of extra time goes into it, too. The eight organizers of this project usually work most evenings and weekends. We have received several tens of thousands of euros from our universities and the German Foreign Ministry and we also employ people now. The moment we have a bigger and better thought-out plan and a firmly established institute, we hope to obtain structural European money.”
How do you see the future of the university?
“We are not finished yet. We can now offer the necessary help in the war, but our ultimate goal is to create more modules, including for refugees from other areas. On top of that, we want to attract other European students so that there is a cultural exchange.”
Ellen Rutten (46) is a professor of Russian literature at the University of Amsterdam and chair of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Cultures.
How does the help you offer differ from already existing initiatives?
“There are already international organizations such as Scholars at Risk that help academics in need. But that help is usually sought in an emergency. Universities also offer programs, but they are often for very small groups. Our university specifically caters to refugee scientists. That will also be the case if a new crisis breaks out.”
